I picked up a new Para Elite Target from my local shop the last week of April. Couple a weeks later I took it out for it's first range trip and it refused to chamber the first round. I tried 8 in the mag, then 7, then 6. The very first round refuged to chamber. If I tapped the bottom of the magazine in would chamber every time and once the first round chambered there were no more problems. I put 100 rounds down range trying different things, none of which fixed the problem. I called Para and the guy who answered the phone told me I hadn't put enough rounds through the gun to break it in. Really!!!! I should have to manipulate the firearm every time I insert a new mag for 500 rounds and hope it fixes the problem. After a little discussion he sent a return label and I sent the weapon back to them last Tuesday 13th which FedEx delivered to them Wednesday the 14th. I hadn't heard anything so I called today to check the status. The guy told me they just received yesterday. I told him it was delivered last Wednesday and he said he was sorry the weapon had just been logged in yesterday and they would get to it in 2 - 3 weeks. Now, I have had my pistol for not quite a month and it will be middle of June before I get it back. So much for the great customer service I had read about. Anybody else have this problem? I was really excited that they were a NC company but this just plain sucks!
Para Elite Target problems
tcoker79
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
I picked up a new Para Elite Target from my local shop the last week of April. Couple a weeks later I took it out for it's first range trip and it refused to chamber the first round. I tried 8 in the mag, then 7, then 6. The very first round refuged to chamber. If I tapped the bottom of the magazine in would chamber every time and once the first round chambered there were no more problems. I put 100 rounds down range trying different things, none of which fixed the problem. I called Para and the guy who answered the phone told me I hadn't put enough rounds through the gun to break it in. Really!!!! I should have to manipulate the firearm every time I insert a new mag for 500 rounds and hope it fixes the problem. After a little discussion he sent a return label and I sent the weapon back to them last Tuesday 13th which FedEx delivered to them Wednesday the 14th. I hadn't heard anything so I called today to check the status. The guy told me they just received yesterday. I told him it was delivered last Wednesday and he said he was sorry the weapon had just been logged in yesterday and they would get to it in 2 - 3 weeks. Now, I have had my pistol for not quite a month and it will be middle of June before I get it back. So much for the great customer service I had read about. Anybody else have this problem? I was really excited that they were a NC company but this just plain sucks!
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3,803 Posts
Mine is there as well, they had a fire there about 2 weeks ago so things are a little crazy in Pineville right now.
Well, the fire thing does explain the backlog but man it sucks to buy a new firearm, for it to only have to be sent back to factory for repairs.
I bought a used expert from someone on here. The gun runs great but constantly shot low. I have several 1911's so I knew it was shooting low. I ordered a rear sight from Dawsons and when I tried to install it wouldn't go in, the cut was too deep. I called Dawson and they said they had seen some of the Para's cut to deep before. Long story short sent them my slide and they installed new front and rear, now it is on the money. I didn't know they are owned by Remington and they are closing the Pineville plant and moving to Alabama.
Don't get me wrong, it has functioned perfectly. It shoots as good as my others, has a better trigger than some of my other higher priced ones. I told Dawson how low it was shooting and had a new rear sight put on and a fiber optic front. I really like it now.
Not long ago, my ex-nephew in law brought his new Para to me with intermittent feed and RTB problems that occurred on nearly every magazine at least once. I handed him a half dozen of my magazines and we headed to PHA to have a look. 250 rounds later, he remarked: "I guess Para's magazines are pieces of shit."
The magazine is always the first suspect. Always.
The magazine is always the first suspect. Always.
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384 Posts
Were you using hollow points or FMJ? My para does the same thing with hollow points. First round out of a magazine nose dives into the feed ramp unless I rack the slide hard. Be sure you are letting the slide close on its own and not riding the slide forward with your hand. This sounds to be the case since you say once its chambered it fires fine.
I was always sure it was the magazine but since I really only shoot FMJ's out of it, I never replaced it.
I was always sure it was the magazine but since I really only shoot FMJ's out of it, I never replaced it.
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16,623 Posts
Sucks to hear. I really want to like some of their newer stuff. I thought they may be taking their game up a notch. The specs on the elite are great. I was reluctant to drop that kind of coin on one when it puts you in Colt/Springfield pricing territory. Keep us informed of how they treat you with all the stuff they have going on.
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1,357 Posts
I've had my Para Expert about a month now. The first couple boxes of ball ammo, I was getting about three FTFeed issues per box of 50. After 250 rounds, their instructions, I broke it down and gave it a thorough cleaning. (I did clean out the barrel bore and lube the barrel ends after range trips.)
After the 250 rounds it has been pretty consistent with ball ammo and my reloads. I did have three FTF this week, but I think it was a limp wrist issue --- it was in the last 10 rounds of the box. I had practiced my CZ with about 125 rounds, and I was pretty tired when I got to the Para. Not POI issues, it shoots as true to target as my CZ.
After the 250 rounds it has been pretty consistent with ball ammo and my reloads. I did have three FTF this week, but I think it was a limp wrist issue --- it was in the last 10 rounds of the box. I had practiced my CZ with about 125 rounds, and I was pretty tired when I got to the Para. Not POI issues, it shoots as true to target as my CZ.
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3,965 Posts
1911 Tuner is right. The first suspect in a FTF issue is the mags. I was going to suggest you check the spring and follower. That's always a good place to start before you start grinding on the feed ramp.
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521 Posts
Have you tried a CheckMate mag? I have had zero problems with these: http://www.checkmatemagazines.com/cart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=11
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16,623 Posts
We need a 1911tuner approved 1911 magazine list lol. I've not ventured past wilson or chip mccormick. I constantly see checkmates fairly cheap and they're drilled for bumper pads which is nice. I've been reluctant to buy any. I hate to buy just one and I hate to buy
a handful when I'm unsure.
http://www.44mag.com/product/check_mate_1911_magazine_7_stainless/1911_
Just so I'm clear, even after trying the other mags, you still think it's a mag problem? I was shooting WWB FMJ.
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Yes.
The second suspect is the extractor. Specifically, the deflection of the extractor...or how much of the tensioning wall shows past the rectangular block that it passes through. More than about .010-.012 inch can cause problems.
If a return to Para doesn't give you any relief, I'll be happy to take a look at it if you can make the trip...pro bono.
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